Matthew 25

1 “Then the kingdom of the heavens will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. [a] 2 Five of them were foolish and five discerning. 3 For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them; 4 but the discerning took oil in the jars along with their lamps. 5 And while the bridegroom was taking his time, they all became drowsy and were sleeping.

6 “But in the middle of the night there came a shout: ‘Look, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and put their lamps in order. 8 And the foolish said to the discerning, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the discerning answered, ‘There may not be enough for us and for you. Go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

10 “And while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and the ones who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. 11 And later the rest of the virgins come too, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ [b] 12 But he answered, ‘Amen, I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 So stay awake, because you do not know the day or the hour. [c]

14 “For it is like a man going abroad, who called his own slaves and handed over his possessions to them; 15 and to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one — to each according to his own ability — and he went abroad. At once [d] 16 the one who had received the five talents went and worked with it and gained another five; 17 in the same way the one with the two talents gained another two; 18 but the one who had received the one talent went off and dug in the ground and hid his master’s silver.

19 “And after a long time the master of those slaves comes and settles accounts with them. 20 And the one who had received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; look, I have gained another five.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents came too and said, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; look, I have gained another two.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of your master.’

24 “And the one who had received the one talent came too and said, ‘Master, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from where you did not scatter; 25 and I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’

26 “But his master answered him, ‘Evil and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter? 27 So you ought to have put my silver with the bankers, and when I came I would have got back what is mine with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have plenty; but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And throw the useless slave out into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping and the grinding of teeth.’

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the messengers with him, then he will sit on his throne of glory. [e] 32 And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will set the sheep on his right, and the young goats on the left. [f]

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you gathered me in; 36 naked, and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and gather you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ †

41 “Then he will say also to those on the left, ‘Go away from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Accuser and his messengers. [g] † 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not gather me in; naked, and you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.’

44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not serve you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me either.’ [h] 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.” [i]